TENS machine for arthritis?

Storynanny - sorry for not acknowledging your post in response to my grumbles, lucky me, just back from a week away.
Is your knee hot or cold to touch? My consultant, gp and physio all say if my joints are hot and inflamed (inflammatory arthritis) use ice to cool the joint. If the joint is cold, use warmth. When I have a flare up, my hands are usually the first to show it's happening. Hot, swollen knuckles, wrists etc - I have the emergency pack of frozen peas and though initially it is unpleasant, the swelling and heat do go down.
Scooter - thanks for the recommendation, I strained my back, coming down a slope without sticks while we were away last week and it's giving me some gyp so I'll look for Flexall tomorrow.

Iam64,check out the reviews for Flexall on Amazon,if you do buy it,try it on your knuckles,knees and any other joints which get swollen and stiff,truly does work wonders for me.

thanks scooter

No my knees are neither cold nor hot, just painful, they don't even look particularly swollen.
I am persevering with the voltarol gel and on advice from the nurse, am rubbing it either side of the knee cap. Managed a day in London last week with less pain than usual and had a couple of days this week without too much pain. But then yesterday back to a lot of pain. It seems quite random, not connected to exercise, food, footwear etc.

My sister has 'a knee' - have you tried a knee brace story nanny? My wrists can be very painful, and weak. During those times, I find working wrist splints a real boon. I wonder if a knee brace could be as effective?

I did ask my doc about a brace, he made a face and said better to get strengthening the muscles above the knee so I havent bothered.

It was the occupational therapist and rheumatology specialist who recommended the wrist splints. You're also recommended to strengthen the muscles and keep the tendons/ligaments etc moving by doing wrist exercises. I think I'll google knee braces. Athletes wear them don't they, if a knee has taken a knock, if it's good enough for footballers, I wonder why it isn't for us. Except footballers do get more arthritis than the general population so maybe that's because they continue to play with damaged joints.